Careful In Covenant- Part 1

Careful In Covenant- PART 1

Joshua 9: 3- But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4 they worked craftily, and went and pretended to be ambassadors. And they took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended, 5 old and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy. 6 And they went to Joshua, to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us.” 

CAREFUL IN COVENANT-GOALS & MOTIVES

• The goal of the Gibeonites was not friendship.
• The goal of the Gibeonites was self-preservation through covenant.
• Their motives were wrong.

Even if they deceived Israel into making covenant, the covenant would be no less binding.

Remember if the devil can't get you to walk his way he'll try to get you to agree with him! 

COVENANT IN HISTORY

Covenant goes back to the garden. God promised everything but one thing, yet Adam and Eve still broke covenant.

God promised to redeem mankind and to crush the head of the serpent. God sacrificed an animal and covered Adam and Eve with the skin.   An innocent was slain to ratify the covenant.

Adam and Even were covered by the skin of an innocent animal. In the same way, Jesus body was broken to cover our sin.

Because of the binding nature of covenant and the importance of keeping your word, covenant is meant to be treated with caution, consideration and understanding of expectation, commitment and consequence.

Of course one thing to consider is does entering into covenant or agreement with another violate an existing covenant!

WHAT IS COVENANT

Covenant is an alliance, pledge, or covenant between two.

• It can be a constitution or ordinance and agreement or a pledge. 
• Covenants can be between God and man, friendships, marriages or governing laws.
• Covenants are made to be kept and are often violated. 
• God will never violate covenant but man continually violates covenant. 
• There really was a day when man's word was his bond. 

A covenant was an agreement that required no document.  While there may have been documents the absence of one made the covenant no less binding.

• The covenant is an agreement between two parties. 
• It's an agreement that promises and commits to not being broken and has two sides. 
• Most covenants have promises and requirements for both parties where  all have to be met!
• Some covenants are filled with unconditional promises but no requirement as was the case of God's promise to Noah to never again flood the earth or the give Abraham a child and to bring nations from his loins. 
• The covenant to give Abraham Isaac and land was unconditional!

The Example of Noah

The promise God made to Noah was unconditional.

 

Some of the covenants with Abraham were conditional only upon Abraham arising and going forward.  Everything else, God would do!

With Noah, the covenant was the Word- the document or sign is the rainbow!  The document is a reminder but the spoken Word is the promise!

Genesis 9
8 Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying: 9 “And as for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ark, every beast of the earth. 11 Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
12 And God said: “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that iswith you, for perpetual generations: 13 I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. 14 It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; 15 and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

Example of Abraham

God also made covenant with Abraham:

• He promised a child.
• He promised to be his shield.
• He promised to make Abraham's descendents as numerous as the stars.
• He promised land with very specific boundaries.
• He promised to prosper Abraham and make him great.
• Most of the covenant was unconditional- there was one requirement- the faith walk! 

They became one in covenant.  It's kind of like being joined at the hip!  In covenant two become one. They are inseparable.

• What's mine is yours. What's yours is mine.
• I will arise against your enemies but you will not agree with my enemies.
• You will honor me and I will protect you!

They stayed joined.  This signified the two becoming one through covenant.

This is seen in marriage covenants and other covenants in cultures of the world.

The following is the promise from God.  In this covenant there were two involved but there was no requirement on Abraham's part.  it was no less a covenant.  God made an unconditional promise to Abraham.

Genesis 15: 18 On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates— 19 the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”

EXAMPLE OF COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM'S DESCENDANTS

This is a conditional covenant requiring the recipient to walk with God by faith!

Genesis 17

 1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. 2 And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” 3Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: 4 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. 8 Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”
9 And God said to Abraham: “As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. 10 This is My covenant which you shall keep, b0etween Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; 11 and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. 12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant. 13 He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”
15 Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.” 

The condition was to walk with God. 

At any moment Abraham could turn his back on God and the covenant would be broken but

.............Abraham did not do that.......

“I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. 2 And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” 

Abraham believed God and walked the walk of faith and became a father to the entire nation of Israel.

The sign of their covenant is circumcision.

He also became a father to all of those who walk with God by faith with the sign being the cross and the circumcision of the heart!

Romans 4:16-17  16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 17- (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;

THE IMPORTANCE IS THE WORD

Again, the covenant is the Word.  It is the agreement between the two parties.  In conditional covenants both have to accept the Word. The document like the rainbow, circumcision, contract, etc. is the seal or the reminder.  In unconditional covenants, a proimse is made that will be kept without conditions- as in the case of God's promise to never flood the earth again, God's promise to give Abraham's decendents land and other promises, and more!

The document is the reminder of both the promises and requirements so the document is a reminder of the Word. That makes the Word the primary importance.

See a few of  my past tweets:

• What you fail to possess now becomes a #highplace in your future! Careful in #covenant #Belial Don't enter into agreement with the devil.

• Joshua's covenant with the Gibeonites caused the place he failed to possess to become a high place of Solomon! Careful in#covenant

• Joshua made covenant with the Gibeonites. Although he was deceived a promise is a promise!He should have asked God!#Word #Covenant! Josh 9

• Just because you later find you can't pay the bill doesn't make your car note any less binding! Careful in #covenant!

• Just because you later decide you don't like the car doesn't make your contract any less binding! Careful in #covenant! #contracts #Word

• Just because you find out later he/she is something other than what they said doesn't make your marriage contract null! Careful in #covenant

• Careful in making covenant! Claims of deception make the covenant no less binding! #friendship #contracts #covenant #Laban #Gibeonites

• The covenant was the Word- the document is the rainbow! The document is a reminder but the spoken Word is the promise! #Covenant

• In covenant, the absence of a document makes the Word no less binding in God's eyes! #Covenant

• Covenant: There really was a day when a man's word was his bond. God made covenant with his Word and gave the rainbow as a sign!

Covenants are about agreements and we need to be careful entering into them.  Stay tuned for part two when we dig just a little deeper into the agreement aspect!

THE BODY IS A BODY AND THE KEY IS LOVE

THE BODY OF CHRIST

THE BODY IS A BODY

• The body of Christ is a body. Each part of the body supplies the other parts of the body with their particular function, gifting, and anointing.
• The thing that keeps the body of Christ divided is when one part of the body thinks they are the answer to all things and they don't need the rest of the body or they consider themselves to be elite and better than the rest so everyone else is in error!

What does the Word say? 

• It says the 5-fold gifts are for building up the body.  It also says that through the joints which is the connectivity of the body, one part supplies another. 
• When someone claims to be better and separates themselves from the rest of the body, they not only keep themselves from being able to receive from that body part but they keep themselves from being able to contribute to another body part! 
• This is a body­ wide problem that will be corrected by Christ himself when he brings us all into unity, which he will do!

CRUCIFIXION OF THE BODY

• Until then we need to not crucify one another as the people that hung the body of Christ  on the cross of Christ did. 
• We can sit anywhere in the body and plug in the body of Christ as long as the Spirit of the Living God is there!  
• In that place we can receive from the 5-fold ministry situated there and also contribute our own supply.  
• The body of Christ needs to stop arguing with each other and just build up yourself and others wherever you are in the body!

Eph 4:11-16 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

1 Corinthians 12

 1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2 You know that[a] you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all

...........

12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into[c] one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.
15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole bodywere an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, wherewould the body be?
20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best[d] gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

....

and then it goes on to talk about love but I just wanted to post about the body.... but love is the key to keeping the flow in the body!

CUT OFF THE POOL AND THE POND WILL STINK

Now sure you can cut yourself off from the flow and say I only want the flow in this body and really you will dry up because what looks like flow is really no flow because there's no connectivity!

The true error is in the cutting off from other body parts. That's where what looks like a pretty pool really becomes a nasty pool that may look good on the surface but dig a little deeper and the water is stagnate and the bottom is murky because there is no flow so all manner of snakes, bugs, and grime is lurking in that place.

Love for the body is what creates flow, not being right! That's good preaching Lisa! Unfortunately that is what denominational division has created in the body of Christ. It's created a mentality of "us four and no more," and groups of people so protective of pet doctrines the stop loving and flowing! It's okay to gather where you agree but not if you stop loving what you don't agree with! Amen!

1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. 16 Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

All scriptures taken from:  http://www.biblegateway.com/  (New King James Version)

Characteristics of A True Friend

CHARACTERISTICS OF TRUE FRIENDS

  

Ecclesiastes 4:9  Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.

Proverbs 18:24 A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

While studying Joshua 9 for my last blog, I became interested in what the bible says about friendships.  I saw that representatives from a nation came pretending to be someone they weren't with the intent of deceiving Israel into entering into an agreement with them. This got me thinking about friendships so I looked up some of the characteristics of true friendships.  I've listed just a few below and hope you enjoy the read!

• True friends don't turn you away from God!

Deuteronomy 13:6

If your brother, the son of your mother, your son or your daughter, the wife of your bosom, or your friend who is as your own soul, secretly entices you, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods,’ which you have not known, neither you nor your fathers, 7 of the gods of the people which are all around you, near to you or far off from you, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth, 8you shall not consent to him or listen to him.

• True friends are not greedy!  They gladly share!

1 Samuel 30:26
Now when David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the spoil to the elders of Judah, to his friends, saying, “Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD”

Remember, the friends David shared with were those too tired to pursue but they had been with him all along.  Some of the men wanted to keep all the rewards for themselves but David was faithful.  They were friends and they were not forgotten or cut out of the deal!

• True friends speak face to face and are not pretenders.  What you see is what you get!!

Exodus 33:11
So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle.

• True friends will tell you the truth, even if it hurts.  Their truthfulness has a healing effect!

Proverbs 27:6
Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

• True friends don't abandon you in hard times. On the contrary they comfort you.

Job 2:11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him, and to comfort him.

• True friends are your friends when you have money and when you don't!

Proverbs 14:20
The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor, But the rich has many friends.

Proverbs 19:4
Wealth makes many friends, But the poor is separated from his friend.

Proverbs 19:6
Many entreat the favor of the nobility, And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts.

Proverbs 19:7
All the brothers of the poor hate him; How much more do his friends go far from him! He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon him.

• True friends show kindness when you're down and out!

Job 6:14
“To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend, even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

• True friends do not undermine one another! Undermine- meaning to deal secretly by removing support or to secretly attack with the intent of deceiving or seeming harmless with actions bringing devastating results.  True friends do not do this!

Job 6:27
Yes, you overwhelm the fatherless, And you undermine your friend.

• True friends rejoice with you!

Luke 15:6
And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’

• True friends don't mock and scorn.

Job 12:4
“I am one mocked by his friends, who called on God, and He answered him, The just and blameless who is ridiculed.

Job 16:20
My friends scorn me;My eyes pour out tears to God.

• True friends don't only flatter.

Job 17:5
He who speaks flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children will fail.

• True friends don't forget you!

Job 19:14
My relatives have failed, And my close friends have forgotten me.

• True friends don't turn against you when you don't have money.  Maybe like Job you had money and it seemed everyone was your friend but when they hard times came, they were nowhere to be found.

Job 19:19
All my close friends abhor me, And those whom I love have turned against me.

• True friends pray for their friends.  They also forgive friends that have wronged them.  God's favor is upon those that forgive and pray for friends.

Job 42:10
And the LORD restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

• True friends don't gossip about each other!

Psalm 15:3
He who does not backbite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor does he take up a reproach against his friend.

• Gossip separates friends!  True friends don't do it!

Proverbs 16:28
A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends.

Proverbs 17:9
He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends.

• True friends do not betray!  Remember Judas, the betrayer!

Psalm 41:9
Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me.

• True friends love no matter what. They're there through thick and think. They walk through adversity with you!  Adversity will reveal who is a true friend and who is a self-seeker!

Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.

• True friends are friendly!  If someone's not friendly, they either aren't your friend or they still have a lot to learn about relationships!  Jesus is your best friend and when it seems you have no friends, there is a friend that sticks close by!

I hope you've enjoyed this post!  Just studying these passages alone makes me want to be a better friend.  I hope it's done the same for you!

*All scripture references taken from:  http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/index.php?search=friend&version1=NKJV&searchtype=all&limit=none&wholewordsonly=no&startnumber=26&startnumber=51&startnumber=76

Two Methods Same Devil

TWO METHODS SAME DEVIL

In Joshua 9, Joshua was leading the armies of Israel into the promises of God's covenant.

They had won two important battles in their promised land- both Jericho and Ai.

God had told them to drive out all of the inhabitants!

Each king of the surrounding nations had heard and each king was afraid.  They were quickly scrambling to figure out how to preserve their place, ensure their futures and keep their territory!  Remember we are not now driving out people but we ARE driving out the enemy of the souls of men! The other nation chose instead not to fight but to reserve their territory through deception!  If the devil can't get you to fall, he may try to make a deal!

DISTRACTION OR ATTACK

We need to stay focused on the plan of God in our lives and be alert to any devises of the enemy to lead us off track including friendships that appear to be one thing but are really another and agreements that look nice but are really distractions!

 

Six kings gathered together to strategize against Israel. This was the obvious thing enemies would be expected to do and did not catch Israel unaware or off guard.

One nation however did not join the unified front against Israel.  They approached the problem in an entirely different matter- a plan of self-preservation and deception!

Know for certain that your enemy wants to retain a foothold in your life!  If he can't get you to fail one way, he'll attempt to stop or hinder you another way! We must be alert to the plans and devises of the devil!

1 Peter 5:8   Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

We must not be ignorant!  We must be aware that we do have an enemy that would do anything to stop us!  He is not stupid and will try various ways to stop us.  This is not to project fear.  We have courage, authority and the Word of God but we also have wisdom and discernment!  We just need to be aware and on our toes and be aware that the devil is wicked and we are in the war of the ages- the battle for the hearts of men and the devil wants to render us ineffective and retain footholds.  These men were supposed to be run from their place but because of trickery, they were preserved.

ANOTHER METHOD

Contrasted with the kings of nations that banned together to physically fight Israel is another nation called Gibeon.  They didn't take the obvious route but tackled the problem from another direction.  Take a look at Joshua 9: 3-6

Joshua 9: 3- But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4 they worked craftily, and went and pretended to be ambassadors. And they took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended, 5 old and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy. 6 And they went to Joshua, to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us.” 

The definition of craftily is skillful in underhanded or evil schemes, cunning and deceptive (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/craftily)

We should not be caught unawares - but should be wise with understanding hearts.  The bible tells us to be alert!

2 Corinthians 2:11 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

• These sought to preserve themselves through deception. 
• They pretended to be someone they were not.  
• Their motives were for self-preservation.
• They had their own agenda!  Watch out for friends with agendas!
• They became a distraction and a hindrance.

Israel was forced into an agreement they never should have been in.

Because Israel was not alert and aware they are still experiencing problems today- thousands of years later!

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

On a practical note:

• We should not be quick to enter into agreements.
• We should know those that seek to covenant with us and we should know their motives.
• People aren't always who they say they are and their story isn't always true!
• Be careful of people that want to attach themselves to you but their motives are wrong.

This doesn't say that we should be suspicious of every friendship but just to know that as we walk through our spiritual journey, if the devil can't stop us with warfare, he will attempt deception and/or distraction!

The bible says the devil is crafty.  It says he walks around as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.  We need to be as wise as serpents but harmless as doves, know those we enter into agreements with and be careful to stay focused on the plan of God without distraction!  Amen!

The Devil Doesn't Stand A Chance

Joshua 9

 

New King James Version (NKJV)

 1 And it came to pass when all the kings who were on this side of the Jordan, in the hills and in the lowland and in all the coasts of the Great Sea toward Lebanon—the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite—heard about it, 2 that they gathered together to fight with Joshua and Israel with one accord.

THE DEVIL DOESN'T STAND A CHANCE

Joshua leading the children of Israel is the best Old Testament example we have of God leading his people into the promises of his Word!  Joshua and the armies had just won two battles- one in Jericho and one in Ai.  Prior to those victories, they had already become famous among their enemies.

Look what Rahab the harlot told them when they were still only scouting the land:

Joshua 2:9b  I know that the LORD has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you.

Now you know you've got something going on when you attract not one devil but many!  When they can't defeat you alone, they try banding together!  They were on this side of the Jordan- in the promised land and were in the process of driving out the inhabitants and taking over territory.

We are called to walk in our promised land spreading the good news. Today we are not physically removing people from our surroundings but we are translating their hearts out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light.  However, as far as Israel is concerned, this is the physical land God promised them and to this day, because Israel never fully took their land, they are still fighting battles that would have been unnecessary had they done all God told them to do.

In the verses above, we see on group of kings- Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.  It says they heard about "it" and gathered together in one accord to fight against Israel and Joshua as Israel's leader.  This was not a surprise.  What was the "it" they had heard?  They had heard about Israel's victory over the first two cities in the promised land- Jericho and Ai. They had also heard of their victories beyond the Jordan.  God was with them and had been with them and as long as they had obeyed him God had fought for them.

When the bible says they heard about it, they took an action.  The devil isn't concerned about you if he can keep you in a defeated place but when he hears about your victories and about how you are defeating his kingdoms and tearing down his strongholds he will begin to strategize. If you aren't being fought, you probably aren't winning any battles! In fact the devil may have you right where he wants you- in a state of complacency.  It's the ones who are winning battles and taking ground for Jesus the devil fears and takes action against!  The bible says here they joined together in one accord to fight against Israel. 

One of the main things to note here is that all the kings joined together in one accord to fight against Israel.  You know you're feared of the devil when he has to join forces with other devils just to strategize against you.  The devil isn't omni-present or omni-powerful.  When it takes more than one devil to come against you, you know you've got something he's afraid of.  In Joshua 5 it says the hearts of the surrounding kings were melting an they had no breath in them. 

That was prior to the walls falling in Jericho.  The armies of Israel with Jesus as their captain and Joshua as their leader went on to defeat Jericho and Ai, fighting armies larger and more fortified than themselves but yet victorious in every way!

Here in Joshua 9 they had heard with their ears and actually perceived that Joshua was no ordinary leader and this was no ordinary army.  They feared their future. Surely by now they knew that the God of Israel had ordered their extinction!  No wonder they pooled together in an attempt to preserve themselves and to stop the armies of God.  They had heard about Israel's victories in both Jericho and Ai.  They knew they didn't stand a chance alone.  What they didn't know was that they didn't stand a chance even unified against Israel because Israel had God on their side!  You know you've got something about you to be feared with the devils unite forces against you! Hallelujah!

Note:  Time and space doesn't permit me to continue with more detail now but this plan of the enemies' turned out to be futile.  It was shortly after this Israel did battle these kings and it was in that battle the sun stood still for Joshua so the thing to know is that as you go forward in your purpose in God's kingdom, with God on your side, no devil, devils or other enemies can stop you!  God will fight for you even in he has to stop the sun on your behalf!  Amen!

Let the Church Examine Herself

Let the Church Examine Herself

I hear a lot of people say the some people don't come to church because the presence of god is too strong and they're too convicted and don't want to turn from their sin.

I say, "Could it be that when they do come they see religion and hypocrisy?" Maybe they see a lot of competition and backbiting; a lot of selfishness and striving. Maybe they see the division among denominations and witchcraft manifested in control and manipulation. Maybe they've had preachers manipulate them into giving, just to see their face plastered across headlines for immoral behavior. Has it ever occurred to us that maybe we should take a look at ourselves and read the whole bible and make sure our own lives are conforming to the cross before we start bashing others for their sin? I'm just saying.....

It is time for judgment to begin with the house of the Lord. It seems to me Jesus was more concerned with sin, religious appearance without conformance, jealousy, strife and envy within the religious crowd than he was the clothing of a sinner or the drinking of the tax collectors!

If we're going to unleash on sinners, let us first examine our own tree for each and every piece of fruit mentioned in Galatians 5:

Gal 5:17-26
17 For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do.

18 But if you are guided (led) by the [Holy] Spirit, you are not subject to the Law.

19 Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are clear (obvious): they are immorality, impurity, indecency,

20 Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies),

21 Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,

23 Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [[f]that can bring a charge].

24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires.

25 If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit [g]we have our life in God, let us go forward [h]walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]

26 Let us not become vainglorious and self-conceited, competitive and challenging and provoking and irritating to one another, envying and being jealous of one another. (Amplified)

THROUGH THE ROOF

THROUGH THE ROOF


My meditations on a sermon preached by Bishop Howard Bass of The Destiny Center:

Jesus, sitting in a room, maybe even standing- teaching, ministering under the anointing, doing what he's always done before.  In his presence are the hungry and the thirsty, pressing into him for their every need, their every desire, hearing a sound from his mouth and feeling the deepest parts of their every longing met. 

Also around him are the religious, the deceptive and all of those with motives to corner him and trap him.  One wrong word and they've got him!  They fill every part of the room. There's standing room only and even those standing are pressing against one another- each trying to move closer inching in for every available space and slowly filling it, ensuring they are the ones to receive what they came for.

Along come four men, carrying a friend- a friend that once moved with ease and agility but is now paralyzed,  his paralysis from injury keeping him from moving forward.  He wants to get up but somehow he can't. He is blocked. He is dysfunctional.  His brain says yes but his body says no and so there he is, collapsed into the only place he has found for himself- his bed!   There he lies day by day on his bed with no energy, no ability and no will.  Outside there is also a press at every window and doorway- crowds and lines of people pressing each other on every side and blocking the way.  No one can get in and no one wants to get out!  Now what?  His friends have brought him this far through the streets and to the house just to have their dreams crushed?  No!  Their expectation is to see their friend get up.  Here is the man that can help!  Here is their only hope!  They've come this far¸ carrying their friend, knowing they would be able to walk in as four men carrying another but walk out as 5 friends, all on their feet together!  They will not be stopped.  They look around for another answer.  One of them gazes up and gives voice to the thought that passes through his mind, "What about the roof." There's no one blocking the passage to the roof.  No one cares.  Everyone is there for themselves- to each his own!  There's no answer on the roof.  The roof has no entrance.  The roof is nothing more than a blockage to keep the rain out.  The roof is a covering for the place they want to be.  The roof is a blockage, not a passage.  No one wants to go to the roof.  They can't hear the master through the roof and they can't find a good place to rest on the roof that gets them close to the master that can fill their every longing.  The friends pick up the stretcher once again and head for the passage and when they make it to the roof- tired, panting, sweating and breathless, they lay the friend beside them, ensuring his safety and they begin to dig.  They tear into the surface, knowing that if there is no passage, they'll make one.  They will not be denied what they came for even if it means they do the unthinkable- dig through the construction of another man's house, but it's worth the risk.  It's the only way.  All other ways have been exhausted.  They may be accused of vandalism.  They may be met with opposition.  Surely there  will be accusation and wrong assumptions but it's their only hope and their expectations are high.  They know he has what they need if they can only get beside him.  A hole in the roof can be tended to but they need answers and they need them now!  They dig and dig and dig and suddenly they see glimpses of the inside.  Their calculations are confirmed.  The master is just below.   Having carefully chosen their position they begin to clear the way and they lower their friend, right in front of the master.  The entire atmosphere changes as the master sets eyes on the scene in front of him.  The one who changes has been changed.  His plans have changed.  His eyes and thoughts have been redirected to this team of  5 rebels who refuse to be denied.  Those competing for position are angered and appalled.  They are burning with envy and even hatred.  They begin to devise plans of what they will say.  Others are amazed and just stare in awe of the scene that is playing out before their eyes.  The master, seeing the expectation and faith of these men begins to address the one on the stretcher.  He explains his condition is not because of sin.  He says, "Your sins are forgiven you. Stop thinking that way!"  The religious men with only their own selfish desire for position, power, authority and recognition say in their minds but not out loud, "What right does he have to say this! How can he forgive sins. He is blaspheming!"  They're glad they've finally caught him in something they can hold against him.  The master hears their thoughts- not their words.  He knows by the Spirit what they are thinking.  The master brings peace yet these men want to strive.  The man on the stretcher is sincere in his search yet these men are deceptive and self seeking, even self exalting and surely self­-preserving.  Instead of arguing, the master begins to demonstrate.  He doesn't demonstrate with a magic wand or even his hands but he demonstrates with  the power of his words and with authority!  He says, "So you may know the son of man has power and authority to forgive," and he says to the paralytic, "Arise and walk.  Take up your bed and go your way!"  With just one Word spoken from the master, the brain and body begin to function again!  The man who was stuck in his place can move again!  That which was blocking him and had been stopping him no longer had any power over him.  The expectations of the friends were not disappointed.  The ones willing to crawl, carry a load with and of their friend, and peel their way through the roof and make space in a place that had no space, changed everything.  They redirected the attention of the master, stirred up even more envy and anger among the haters, stunned the onlookers and ignited the anointing of the one with the answers- and saw him do what he had never done before!  Everything in their world changed in a moment!  They got what they came for and went forward, not only having received all they came for but became a walking talking bible for generations to come!"  Expectation that changed an atmosphere and was not disappointed!"  (Amen, my morning meditation of a sermon delivered yesterday by Howard Bass- preaching from Mark 2)

BLESSED TO REST

BLESSED TO REST

Genesis 2:3
Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

BEFORE THE FOUNDATION

Before the fall in the Garden of Eden God blessed the 7th day, setting aside a day where he rested from works.  Even before the fall the plan for man to rest was on God's mind.  Before the fall, God knew man would fall. Before the fall, when man was still at rest, God knew they would need to re-enter that rest. God rested from his own works leading the way for man to enter into a rest! Because he rested, we can enter into a rest! The bible says Jesus was already slain before the foundations of the earth were laid! God was not surprised at the fall and had already provided a way for mankind to be saved!  God isn't limited by present knowledge. He sees that past, present and future all at once!   In fact Jesus had to be slain before the foundations of the world because he is the foundation!  In order to build on Christ he must come first and he did!  Before God created the earth, his son was already set aside for the purpose of redemption! This is an awesome truth!

Revelation 13:8
All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

1Peter 1:20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you

Isaiah 28:16 b

Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation,  A tried stone, a precious cornerstone

DAY OF REST FOR MAN

God has designed the human body to need a day of rest.  This is a day that we stop our labor and our toils and both rest our bodies and worship him.  While physical rest is one day a week, rest in Christ is eternal.  The number six represents the number of man. Six days we labor and on the 7th we rest.  The number seven represents perfection.  In Christ, the perfect one, we enter an eternal rest from our own labors and rely on Christ.

Matthew 11:28-30

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

In the Old Testament the actual day mattered. The Old Testament was a type and shadow of the New. In the Old Testament the Jews worked for 6 days but at the end of the 6th day they could do no labor and they entered into a 24 hour rest.  The New Testament teaching is that we enter into a spiritual eternal rest (not just 24 hours) representing the 7th day-the day we accept Christ as Savior.  It's on that day we rest from our own labors and rest in what he has done for us.  We know all of our own labors and toils can never provide the permanent eternal rest in God that was lost in the fall.  The day of the week doesn't matter but the day you accept Christ does!  Some denominations put an emphasis on the actual day.  You can work Monday through Saturday and wind up like a clock and visit a church on Sunday but that doesn't save you.  You can do the same thing Sunday through Friday and then grace the doors of a church on Saturday and still have a heart that hasn't been cleansed by the blood of Christ.  The actual day doesn't matter but the day of Christ matters.  We must ask ourselves have we found the day that we set down self-reliance and yielded to Christ and his forgiveness?  It's on that day, we find rest! That's when the 7th day, the day of rest becomes an every day experience! That's when we enter back into the place man had in the garden before the fall!  It's an eternal day of rest! Amen!

The Promise of Rest

Hebrews 4: 3-7   7-For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:“ So I swore in My wrath, ‘ They shall not enter My rest,’” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; 5 and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest.” 6 Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, 7 again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said:


 “ Today, if you will hear His voice,
  Do not harden your hearts.”

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

This passage shows the true rest was not entered into in the Old Testament but that true rest is for those who believe in Christ. Those who don't believe have no rest. Those who do have entered into that rest! He who has entered that rest, has ceased from  his own works!  Praise God!

TODAY IS THE DAY

So there is a promise of rest and that rest is today!

The 7th day is today!

Today is the day of salvation!

Today is the day to make Christ Lord (if you haven't already!)

Today is the day to rest from works just as God did!

We have no guarantees about tomorrow!

I want to thank each person who takes the time to read this post.  If you've never asked Christ into your heart  you can do that right now.  He is present and hears every word you speak from your heart.  If you want to accept his death and the payment for your sins and if you want to accept the rest from your own works and an eternal rest in life with him, just ask him now.  You can simply say, "Dear Lord Jesus, come into my heart.  Forgive me of my sins.  I give you my life.  Take control and be Lord of my life TODAY!"  Amen!

If you said that prayer, the bible says you are saved~

Scriptures used taken from:  http://www.biblegateway.com/

BLESSING: PENTECOST EMPOWERMENT

THE DAY OF PENTECOST- A QUICK NOTE ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST WHEN THE POWER CAME DOWN!


ACTS 1: 4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

This is what Jesus spoke right after his resurrection and there were about 500 followers. On the day of Pentecost when this actually happened there were only 120 that were actually waiting for this promise, yet Jesus had told them they should wait for it. What did he mean when he said they would be baptized in the Holy Spirit?

The Greek used is baptizo which means to be submersed and also to be continually dipped. This is different that being baptized into the body of Christ, which happens at salvation and it's different from being baptized in water which is an outward act of a choice you make to follow Christ. In the same way we are submersed into the body and submersed in water for baptism, we are submersed in the Holy Spirit by Jesus for a life of consecration, boldness, power and witnessing.

Acts 2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

It was right after this moment that Peter stood up from where he was and spoke the gospel with boldness, resulting in 3000 being saved. Peter who was just coming out of the failure of denying Christ was the one in the face of the religious crowd breaking down their man made traditions and proclaiming the uncompromising gospel of Jesus Christ, the savior of the world!

The 380 that didn't receive (at least at this time) the baptism in the Holy Spirit were no less followers of Christ than the 120 that were in the Upper Room but they didn't at that time experience the baptism Jesus had told them about. It's that baptism that fills us with the power to stand up and be bold about Christ. It's that power that fills us with the Holy Spirit equipment to become his witnesses! It's that power that brings the gifts of the Holy Spirit that are just as alive today as they were then, and which actually equips to set captives free, bring sight to blind, healing of broken hearts and more! Just after that experience those followers went forward preaching and they saw signs and wonders including healing, deliverance, & all kinds of miracles!

Here's something else he said right after he told them to wait for the promise:

Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Even today there are Christians that are satisfied with their own salvation, going to church and shall we say "a little dab will do ya Holy Spirit, and actually spend almost no time at all sharing and demonstrating their faith to others.  All through the book of Acts, an experience and work of the Holy Spirit AFTER salvation is seen. While there may be debates about what the evidences of that work will be there is no question that work results in power to witness and a flame that burns toward boldness- that makes one submersed and consumed with witnessing! That proimise is still available and to receive, one only needs to ask. If you've experienced the baptism in the Holy Spirit, you know it! If you don't know it, make that your Pentecost Celebration commitment; to seek it and find it! Also don't think that a one time experience is enough. As long as we are in this flesh we will need that continual dipping to stay filled for both increased Christ-likeness 

 and increased power to witness Amen!